Yamato



The 閻魔刀: Yamato (閻魔刀：大和) is Vergil's trademark dark-forged blade appearing in Devil May Cry, Devil May Cry 3, and Devil May Cry 4. It is a legendary sword that was once wielded by his father, and was left to Vergil as a keepsake. It resembles a Japanese Ōkatana, though it is said to be able to cut through anything as it is even sharper than an Ōkatana and is imbued with tremendous magic. . These qualities are important in its ability to both open and destroy the Hell Gates, but also allow the blade to slice through the fabric of space itself.

Dark Slayer Style
The Yamato is intimately linked to Vergil's signature Dark Slayer Style, which he uses in Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition and which Dante homages in Devil May Cry 4. As a warrior fallen from grace, Vergil can use the power of darkness to obtain new weapons and skills by leveling the style, and it interacts with his Yamato, Summoned Swords, Beowulf, and Force Edge. The style itself performs much like Dante's Trickster Style. In Devil May Cry 4, Dante obtains this style after receiving Yamato, but instead of being based on teleportation, it allows Dante to imitate Vergil's skills with the Yamato.

History
Yamato once belonged to Vergil's father, Sparda, and according to the Order of the Sword, it was used to seal the "true Hell Gate". It was eventually given to Vergil as a memento, and uses it as his primary weapon in Devil May Cry 3. At the end of the game Vergil fell into the Demon World along with Yamato, and what happened to the blade immediately afterwards is unclear. However, at some point it was found, broken, by the Order of the Sword. Their act of taking it is what drives Dante to retrieve it by entering Fortuna in Devil May Cry 4. It is kept in Agnus's Containment Room within Fortuna Castle, but is restored and taken by Nero when his dormant powers as an heir to Sparda emerge, and thereafter, Nero is able to use the sword while in Devil Trigger. However, it is taken back from him by Sanctus when he is absorbed into the Savior, and is then used by Agnus to reopen the Hell Gate. After slaying Agnus, Dante retrieves the Yamato from the gate seal, and then destroys it with the blade. Thereafter, he wields it while in his Dark Slayer Style. While fighting the Savior, Dante uses it to free Nero, and gives it back to him. At the end of the game, Dante charges Nero with keeping it.

Background
Yamato (大和) is a Japanese term referring to the people and traditional nationalistic spirit of Japan, and in the past to the nation itself. Thus, it is appropriate as the name of the weapon symbolizing Vergil's aesthetic and commitment to tradition and power, as opposed to Dante's personality of resistance symbolized by the Rebellion.

Trivia

 * The 閻魔 in 閻魔刀 can also refer to the judge of the afterlife, Yama, and 刀 may also be read as とう. Thus, 閻魔刀 can technically be read as "Yamatō".
 * In Devil May Cry, the Yamato replaces the Alastor for Dante's "Legendary Dark Knight" costume. It behaves exactly the same as the Alastor, even to the point that Sparda carries it on his back when not in use, and wields it as a broadsword, rather than using the Iaido technique. The blade also possesses a different design than in later games; the Tsuka (柄) has the traditional gold wrapping, with black ornaments, and the Tsuba (鍔) is octagonal. Like the Legendary Dark Knight, Nero also wields the Yamato without the scabbard, in contrast to Vergil and Dante's use of the Iaido technique.
 * It has not yet been revealed what happened to the Yamato after Vergil was killed by Mundus and transformed into Nelo Angelo, but in Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition, the Yamato transforms into Nelo Angelo's zweihänder when in Devil Trigger for Vergil's "Corrupt Vergil" or "Super Corrupt Vergil" costumes. This may also be related to how the Yamato was broken between Devil May Cry 3 and Devil May Cry 4.
 * Among all the weapons in the series, the Yamato has the second-highest number of known wielders (Sparda, Vergil, Agnus, Nero, Sanctus and Dante). It is right below the Sparda, and the two blades share five wielders.